Chapter 103: Right and Wrong Depends on the Situation

Chapter 103: Right and Wrong Depends on the Situation

Xie Yan followed the address on the deed and found the shop that Sun Zhiye had compensated with.

Within a day, the shop had been completely cleared out.

Only an old servant remained, leaning on the counter, hands in his sleeves, dozing off while waiting for Xie Yan to arrive for the handover.

Xie Yan tied up his horse, stepped over the threshold, and knocked on the counter.

The old servant jolted awake, wiped his face, and stood up unsteadily, likely due to his legs falling asleep.

Xie Yan reached out to support him.

"Thank you, Xie—" the old servant scratched his head and cheeks, confused.

"Xie Yan," Xie Yan calmly reminded him.

"Yes, Xie Yan, the shop is officially handed over to you. I must return and report to the Eldest Young Master Sun," the old servant said.

Xie Yan inspected the shop and nodded in approval.

The old servant gathered his tattered, patched cotton jacket, put his hands back in his sleeves, and left humming a tune, nodding and humming to himself.

Xie Yan knitted his brows, recalling what he had learned about the shop.

Mingchao's demand was two shops under the Eldest Son of the Sun family's name that had profited for two consecutive years.

Sun Zhiye had found a loophole; although the two compensated shops were profitable, they were rather cramped and quite far from each other, one in the east of the city and the other in the west.

The two shops were identical in layout and size.

If they could rent or buy the neighboring shop and renovate it to connect with the existing one, it would become bright and airy. No matter what business Mingchao wanted to run, it would go more smoothly and comfortably.

Xie Yan was not one to hesitate or second-guess himself. Once he had a plan, he would execute it as quickly as possible.

If only he were stronger.

Strong enough that people would know Mingchao was his wife and feel fear, not daring to cause her trouble.

He knew that with Mingchao's intelligence and perseverance, she could soar through the storm alone, but he still wanted to be her support.

Simply put, Mingchao might not need him, but he couldn't be without her.

Xie Yan sighed softly and stepped toward the neighboring shop.

The slow, warm sun gradually climbed toward its zenith, shining increasingly warm on his back.

Old Master Sun and Sun Zhiye finally arrived at the prison.

Blood was everywhere, and the walls were covered in confessions. Old Master Sun's legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, crawling awkwardly to Sun Zhiye's side, pushing aside the coroner who was pretending to examine the body. Tears burst from his eyes as he cried uncontrollably, "My son, my son."

The Second Young Master Sun was unruly and troublesome, but he was truly filial to his parents.

When he encountered delicious food or fun things outside, he always brought a portion back home.

Old Master Sun looked at the grotesque wound on the second young master Sun's wrist, from which no more blood was flowing. His trembling hand reached out to cover it, as though it could somehow bring back the second young master's life.

"My precious Peng'er must have been in so much pain."

"Father, you should let the coroner examine the body first," Sun Zhiye's voice was tinged with a touch of sadness, his brows and eyes full of grief.

In the eyes of others, he appeared as the stoic pillar of the family, enduring pain while maintaining the composure needed to handle the aftermath.

Old Master Sun was seething with hatred.

All the weighing of advantages and disadvantages turned into rage and hatred when he saw the lifeless body of his favorite son.

There were other roundabout ways, but his eldest son decisively chose to sacrifice Peng'er, attempting to carve out a path to success on the corpse of his flesh and blood.

Such hatred!

Sun Zhiye's eyes flickered with cold intent. He took two steps forward, pretending to help Old Master Sun to his feet. A flash of cold light appeared between his fingers as his palm brushed over the back of Old Master Sun's neck, and the grief-stricken Old Master Sun collapsed softly into unconsciousness.

He needed his father to display the pain of losing a loved one, but not to lose his rationality and say something rash in his fury.

"Father!" Sun Zhiye called out in alarm. "Someone, take my father to the physician!"

The coroner stepped forward and, after a thorough examination, wrote the forensic report, clearly recording that the second young master had committed suicide the previous night.

Sun Zhiye then pulled out a thin letter, handing it to the official in charge of the case. "This was entrusted by my late brother to a prison guard on duty two days ago to be delivered to the Sun family. I am not familiar with the procedures of the yamen. Should this be submitted for filing?"

The official took the letter and, in front of everyone, opened it, comparing the handwriting with the confession on the wall. "It is indeed written by the same person."

Sun Zhiye replied, "I'll leave it to you then."

A coffin was delivered by the Sun family's servants. Sun Zhiye personally arranged the second young master's appearance in the coffin, placed him in it, and supported it.

Many common folk, having heard the news, waited outside the county yamen, whispering among themselves.

Thinking of the children's rhyme, they couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Sun Zhiye raised his hand, motioning the coffin bearers to stop.

He then crossed his fingers in a gesture of respect and bowed to the surrounding common folk. "My late brother has atoned for his sins with his death. The Sun family will uphold his wishes, sell all the shops under his name to compensate those harmed by him, and our grain shops will offer a price reduction for seven days to express our sincerity and remorse."

"I cannot presume to ask for forgiveness on behalf of my late brother, but the Sun family will do more good deeds."

The common folk were skeptical.

"The elder brother is immoral,"

"The household is in turmoil,"

"The wife and elder brother are engaging in an illicit affair,"

"The playboy died in prison."

Many muttered under their breath.

"The eldest young master Sun, how did the second young master die?"

Sun Zhiye's expression showed pain. "The coroner's examination confirms that my second brother died by suicide."

"Did the second young master find out that his betrothed was taken from you and kill himself in despair?"

Eldest Young Master Sun, this is quite unfair of you."

"Tsk, and they call you Jade String Gentleman, but you probably have the heart of a wolf or leopard."

"Yes, yes, exactly, the children's rhyme clearly calls this a huge lie."

Sun Zhiye bowed again. "I, Sun, am innocent and upright, and I do not fear what others say."

"What is right and wrong may not be fairly judged in people's hearts."

But very often, truth doesn't reside in people's hearts; right and wrong depend only on the circumstances.

These past few days have been incredibly exhausting.

The fatigue, both physical and mental, made it difficult for him to think straight.

The coffin bearers continued forward, paying no mind to the discussions of the people behind them.

Compared to the rumors of hauntings and family unrest, and the evasive children's rhyme, at most, it would only cast a shadow on the reputation of the Jade String Gentleman.

After all, the second young master had truly died in the prison.

There was a confession, a suicide note, a coroner's report, and a constable's testimony to prove it.

Once the government posted the notice, the impact of the children's rhyme would be minimized.

However, it was unfortunate.

Unfortunately, the second young master's death didn't hold as much value.

At the corner, Xie Yan, riding a horse down the street, unexpectedly encountered Sun Zhiye, who was accompanying the coffin.

Xie Yan pulled the reins, slowing down, and with a smile, he murmured as he passed by, "I've often heard people say that the eldest son of the Sun family acts with integrity and righteousness, a true gentleman. But today, it seems those rumors may not be entirely true."

"The eldest son of the Sun family truly has the heart of a heroic figure, someone who accomplishes great things without being constrained by trivialities."

Sun Zhiye's eyes widened in shock. He whipped his head around to see Xie Yan gently pat the horse, which galloped away, leaving a carefree and arrogant figure on that long street.

He had actually seen disdain and contempt in the eyes of a mere hunter.

Does Xie Yan really deserve to show such contempt?

"An old friend encountered in the deep mountains."